AMD announced on its blog that its upcoming RDNA 2 graphics architecture will "fully support DirectX 12 Ultimate. This includes updates to Microsoft's DirectX Raytracing (DXR) API used for real-time ray tracing.

Since we have a bit to unpack here, let's start with the AMD RDNA 2 GPU design: with Navi, the GPU that drives the desktop and mobile Radeon RX 5000 series, AMD introduced the RDNA graphics architecture. It is built on the same state-of-the-art 7-nanometer manufacturing process that AMD uses for its latest generation of Ryzen CPUs (Zen 2). [RDNA 2 is the next iteration of Navi. Typically, new or updated GPU architectures provide faster performance and better power efficiency than those they replace, and we fully expect that to be the case with RDNA 2. In addition, RDNA 2 will introduce hardware-based support for real-time ray tracing. At this time, only Nvidia's GeForce RTX cards and GPUs offer dedicated hardware to handle ray-traced visuals (technically, some of Nvidia's GeForce GTX cards also support ray tracing, but are completely software-based and not feasible for most games).

RDNA 2 underpins the custom graphics cores in Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Sony's PlayStation 5 consoles; AMD has already announced that it will bring RDNA 2 graphics solutions to PCs later this year. but has not yet announced a release date or detailed specifications.

On the software side, DX12 Ultimate is Microsoft's latest application programming interface (API), developed in collaboration with AMD and Nvidia. It allows developers to communicate with hardware. DX12 Ultimate is not a DirectX refresh, but a collection of updated tools and technologies, including the next version of DirectX Raytracing. AMD is working on many ray tracing effects and worked with Microsoft on the design of DXR 1.1, an update to DXR that will enable better efficiency and performance," AMD said

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Part of Microsoft's goal with DX12 Ultimate is to unify the PC and Xbox Series X experience: if you buy a graphics card with a DX12 Ultimate badge, you will be able to use all relevant graphics technologies in the coming years support.

Currently, the only DX12 Ultimate option is the GeForce RTX line, but as AMD has confirmed, next-generation Radeon cards will also join the fray.